Selectively controlled alarm

ABSTRACT

Switch means selectively energizes one of two parallel circuit branches. The first branch includes a lighting lamp and photocell switch connected in series and housed within a lamp post for providing general illumination when ambient light conditions are lowered to a predetermined range. Upon actuation of the switch means, the first branch is opened and the second branch is closed to operate an emergency colored lamp, an audio alarm and a flasher.

I J n ited States Patent Inventors Lewis l.. (lard Montgomery:

Joe Stuhhlefield. deceased. late of \lontgomer lb Lois M. Stubblefield)all of Ala. Appl. No. 723.440 Filed Apr. 23, I968 Patented Aug. 10, I971Assignee Leon L. Clardy, a.li.a. Lewis L. Clardy SELECTIVELY CONTROLLEDALARM 6 Claims, 1 Drawing Figs.

U.S. c1 340/326. 340/331. 340/332 Int. Cl G08b 23/00 Field of Search.340/326.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,007.135 10/1961 Marr Mum1x; 3,142.833 7/1964 Bosleyet-aL. 340/326x 3.207.948 9/1965 Beguin740/332x 3.325.950 6/1967 Pfaff lrw 1. 340/84X Primary Examiner--John W.Caldwell Assistant Examiner-Michael Slobasky AllorneysClarence A.O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson ABSTRACT: Switch means selectivelyenergizes one of two parallel circuit branches/The first branch includesa lighting lamp and photocell switch connected in series and housedwithin a lamp post for providing general illumination when ambient lightconditions are lowered to a predetermined range. Upon actuation of theswitch means, the firstbranch 1s opened and the second branch is closedto operate an emergency colored lamp, an audio alarm and a flasher.

PATENTEU ms 1 0 I971 and SELECTIVELY CONTROLLED ALARM- The presentinvention relates to alarms and more particularly to an audiovisualalarm housed within a lamp post which normally serves a lightingfunction.

The prior art includes a large number of diversified alarm apparatus.Certain of these constructions include lamp means which becomeactuatedwhen detection of fire or intrusion occurs. Certain other devices couplean audio alarm means with a visual-signalling means thereby emphasizingan emergency situation. Generally, these special purpose devices areunesthetic to a viewers eyes so that they are not well received in aresidential environment.

The present'in-vention includes audio and visual alarm componentsarranged in=a novel and useful circuit which is housed within anexterior lamp post structure normally adapted to light a surroundingarea. Actuating. controls are disposed within an adjacent house and inpreset to automatically establish illumination when ambient lightingconditions fall below a predetermined level. To signify an emergencysituation, the control located within the house is actuated so that theaforementioned. lighting: lamp turns off and audio visual alarms aregenerated. Therefore, the present invention incorporates an electricalalarm system in a lamp post structure which decoratively conceals theelectricalalarm components from view. Thus, the. present inventionsatisfies a long felt need for homeowners-and others in providing acombination utilitarianstructure and. remotely actuated alarm signallingmeans.

These togethen with other objects-and advantages whichwill becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction-andoperationas more fully. hereinafter described and claimed; reference being had tothe accompanying drawings .formi ngsa partrhereof, wherein like numeralsrefer to like parts throughout, .and-in' which:

FIG. 1 isaview in=-perspective illustrating a lamp post'forhousingzelectrical components of thepresent' invention.

FIG. 2 isan electricalschematic.representation of a circuit includingelectricalalarm components.

Referringspecifically tothe drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1,the preferred'embodiment of the present invention includes a lamp postfor housingv electrical alarm components. therein.v The lamp poststructure includes a glass dome l'=2 e'nclosingaa lighting lamp 14 and acolored emergency signallarnp'lfi-A lamp post shade or cover 17 isdisposed in T overlying relations to'the'glass dome thereby protectingthe interior thereof from the-elements of weather. The lamp postinc'ludesacylindrical collar section 18. disposed underneath and coaxial.with:.the2glass dome. 12. for enclosing a photoelectric cell-switchiflincluding'a light sensor which'is exposed to ambient lightconditions. Amain-vertical post section 22 supports the collar. 18 and is firmly.anchored into the ground. Theupperportionz the post. section 22 includescircumferentially spacedaperturesor slits .24 therein through whichaudio signals-are:emitted from a suitable audio'alarmmeans26'containedzw-ithin the lamp post section 22. The audio alarm means 26maybeasiren,-bell=onthesliker An -intermediateseotionofithedamp:postincludes a rodlike signrcarrierportionzdenotedsby28i This-includes afirst carrier section 30appendingg-perpendiculariy from the'lamppostsection 22,..and' suitably attached-thereto: For rigidification, asuitable decorative bracket 32 is connected between thedirstcarrier:seotion ao and the-post section' 2-2I A secondlonger carriersection'flit similarlyattachedto the post section 22- is rigidified-by adecorative bracket 36 suitably connected betweewthexupper surface of.thesecond carrier section 34 and the.section..-22l.T-hedower:surface ofthe second'carrier' section .343-includes two laterally-spaced hoolt andeye fastenersflfl'orsthe like for properly attaching asign 40'denotinganaddress orname.

The. electrical-components are controlled. by a suitable switchlocatedwithina residence as-explained hereinafter. Electrical cables areconnected therebetween.

Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawing, the electric circuit for actuatingthe aforementioned electrical components is denoted by reference numeral42. Control of this circuit is accomplished by a ganged dual sectionsingle pole, double-throw switch denoted by 44, the switch being locatedwithin a residence Electrical power is provided to the circuit throughinput leads 46 and 48. in the normal switch position, contacts 50 of afirst pole of the switch are shorted thereby applying power through lead46 to serially connected photocell switch means 20 which is of aconventional type utilized in electric eye applications. A lighting lamp14 is serially connected with the photocell switch means and thenreturned to input terminal 48. it is noted that switch 44 is normallypositioned to energize the lamp 14 upon closing of photocell switchmeans 20 which occurs during low light conditions. The second polecontacts 52 of switch 44 include one contact thereof which is jumped tothe input terminal 46. The other contact thereof is connected to theaforementioned audio alarm 26. The latter is in turn serially connectedto an emergency lamp 16 through a conventional lamp flasher 54 whichcauses the emergency lamp to flash when energized. The seriesaudiovisual alarm circuit is completed by connecting the emergency lamp16 back to input terminal 48.

In operation of the device, the switch- 44 is positioned to causeautomatic lighting of the regular lighting lamp 14 when a predeterminedlevel of darkness occurs. Should an em'ergenwill be appreciated, thepresent invention permits a resident to alert outsiders to an emergencysituation occurring within the house by merely flipping switch44.Although the la'mpl4 operates duringdarkened light conditions, theaudiovisual alarm circuit may be actuated at anytime during the daybecause the input terminals thereof are connected'across the power inputterminals 46 and.

The'foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction'and operation shownand'described.

What-l claim as new is as follows:

l. A combined illuminating and emergency signalling device comprising atubular post anchoredin the groundhaving'upper end portion provided withcircumferentiallyspaced openings, light sensing control means mountedonthe post above said openings, a transparent enclosure mounted on thepost above said openings, a transparent enclosure mounted-on the postabove the light sensing means, a pair of lamps mounted within thetransparent enclosure, audio alarms means mounted within' the post foremitting -.audio*signals through saidopenings, circuit means operativelyinterconnecting thelamps and alann means for simultaneous energizationof thealarm means with-one of'thelamps, and=remote" control meansconnected to the light sensing-mea-nsand the circuitmeans forselectively rendering the other of theflarnps operative under control ofthe light sensing means while said one ofthe lamps and the alarm meansis held'inoperative.

2. A selective audiovisual alarmapparatus having a tirst-series branchcomprising first and-second input terminals, first switch means,photocell switch means for monitoringambient light, first lamp meansenergized in response to a predetermined ambient light and closing ofsaidfirst switch means, said apparatus further having a second'series'circuit connected" across said'first and second input terminalsandincluding second switch means, audio alarm means,.flasher means andsecondary emergency lampmeans, said audio" alarm and emergency lampmeans being energized'in response't'o closing of said second switchmeans, a tubularpost being anchored in being mounted-to the'postforexposure to ambient light.

area and said second lamp means emits a colored signal light signifyingan emergency.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said audio alarm meansincludes a siren.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said audio alarm meansincludes a bell.

1. A combined illuminating and emergency signalling device comprising atubular post anchored in the ground having an upper end portion providedwith circumferentially spaced openings, light sensing control meaNsmounted on the post above said openings, a transparent enclosure mountedon the post above the light sensing means, a pair of lamps mountedwithin the transparent enclosure, audio alarm means mounted within thepost for emitting audio signals through said openings, circuit meansoperatively interconnecting the lamps and alarm means for simultaneousenergization of the alarm means with one of the lamps and remote controlmeans connected to the light sensing means and the circuit means forselectively rendering the other of the lamps operative under control ofthe light sensing means while said one of the lamps and the alarm meansis held inoperative.
 2. A selective audiovisual alarm apparatus having afirst series branch comprising first and second input terminals, firstswitch means, photocell switch means for monitoring ambient light, firstlamp means energized in response to a predetermined ambient light andclosing of said first switch means, said apparatus further having asecond series circuit connected across said first and second inputterminals and including second switch means, audio alarm means, flashermeans and secondary emergency lamp means, said audio alarm and emergencylamp means being energized in response to closing of said second switchmeans, a tubular post being anchored in the ground, an upper end of thepost having openings formed therein adapted to allow passage of an alarmsignal therethrough, said signal being generated by the alarm means, anda transparent enclosure mounted on the post for enclosing the first andsecond lamp means, the photocell switch means being mounted to the postfor exposure to ambient light.
 3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2wherein said first and second switch means are oppositely ganged forsimultaneous closing of said first switch means and opening of saidsecond switch means, said first and second switch means operating inreverse upon manual actuation thereof.
 4. The apparatus set forth inclaim 2 wherein said first lamp means emits substantially white lightfor lighting a surrounding area and said second lamp means emits acolored signal light signifying an emergency.
 5. The apparatus set forthin claim 2 wherein said audio alarm means includes a siren.
 6. Theapparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said audio alarm means includes abell.